Method and apparatus for forming staple fiber



, 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TUR.

A TTORNEYS.

HHIH HHUHWMH WIWHH .HINHMIMMMWMHMMMWMHHMNHHHHHH HVUHHMW July 8, 1941. N. s. CAMPBELL METHODy AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING STAPLE FIBER Filed may 29, 1957 July 8, 1941. N. s. CAMPBELL METHODND APPARATUS FOR FORMING STAPLE FIBER Filed May 29, i937 2 Sheets-sheet 2 A TTORNEYS.

Patented July 8, 1941 UNITEa STATES Ml"ENT'l ortica METHOD AND APPARATUS Foa Vromunvc.

sTArLa man Nelson s. campbell, Breekima'mess.

Application May 29, 1937, serial No. 145,425

(ol.-191) i 24 Claims.-

This invention is a continuation in part of my co-pending application, Ser. No. 62,418, led February 5, 1936, and relates to the methodand apparatus for handling a group or large number of filaments somewhat similar to the usual sliver except that these laments are in the form which is commonly called continuous laments. For convenience in the following description', I will call this large number or group of continuous filaments a rope although it is not twisted.

The laments will be either` natural, suchas silk, or articial which at the present time are often referred to as synthetic laments such for example as rayon, Celanese, Bemberg, or any others which may hereafter be developed.

This invention has for one Aof its objects the converting of such continuous laments into workable or draftable sliver.

Another object of the invention is the maintaining of the-laments and bers after being cut into staple length in a substantially undisturbed parallel relation so that it will be unnecessary to employ a carding, combing or straightening out operation on the staple bers with a consequent damage to the individual bers and waste of the material.

. Another object of the invention is thev simplifying of the process of converting continuous length bers into spinnable length bers by the elimination of one or more of the steps which it is customary to employ and thus causing asaving in both the machinery and labor in the nal result acquired.

Another object of the linvention is the continuous moving of the work through the machine as distinguished from intermittent feeding and thus a more simplied machine and process for the feeding of the workthan where step-by-step feed mechanism is necessarily employed.

Another object of the invention is to cut the bers with a knife and after the bers are so cut to turn the work so that the bers are related one overlying theother in a vertical direction instead of one extending pastthe end of the other in a horizontal plane.

Anotherobject of the invention is to.carry the work vthrough the apparatus with `the minimum amount of friction on the work and without pushing the work while performing the desired functions on the same. A

With theseand other objectsin'view, vthe invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view illustrating somewhat diagrammatically a machine for accomplishing the principles of my invention:

Fig. A2 is a side elevation of this apparatus;

Fig. 3-is a top plandiagrammatic view illustrating the mechanism `above vthe work as removed and showing the work aspassing through the operations of the apparatus;

Fig. .4 is a diagrammatic side elevation showing the Work as vit would appear from the edge thereof f e Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the pair of traveling belts which receive and turn the work so as to dispose it at right angles to the plane of its travel through the feeding rolls and cutters;

Fig. 6 is an end viewjof a condensing block which may be interposed between the cutting rolls and the delivery rolls of the apparatus for turning the work about its axis through 90 and which may be substituted for the belts for handling certain sorts of work;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view showing the block of Fig. 6 in section and illustrating the work as being turned through 90;

Fig. 8 is a central sectional view of the block online8-8ofFig.6;j

' Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the sliver after it has been out into staple length bers and showing the relation of the bers one to the other.

Heretofore. it hasbeen usual to cut continuous length laments into staple bers insuch a manner that it was necessary to pass the staple bers through 'a carding machine in order to straighten outthe bers and arrange them in parallel relation, or it has been attempted to break continuous length laments into staple bers, but it has been found that the break will not occur sulciently evenly along the length of the laxnent but rather the staple bers are of such uneven lengthas to be unserviceable for high-grade sliver where pre- -determined even lengths of bers, are required.

f 'these nbers are caused to stretch which is injurlous :to the bers and accordingly not entirely satisfactory; and in order that these detrimental results maybe eliminated, I have provided a ma- ,chine in which the work is fed continuously through the machine, a knife operating obliquely 'to theylinefof travel of the work plane is caused to sever the bers and these bers are maintained, in a generally parallel ."direction and manipulated sothat they are in draftable form` whereby 'they may be 'directly put into adrawing apparatus or be ready to be later put into a drafting apparatus for drawing the sliver without the necessity of passing the same through a card to straighten the staple fiber, thereby eliminating a great deal of Waste and breaking of the fiber which has heretofore been occasioned, the same being accomplished with a minimum amount of friction and accordingly a minimum amount of tendency to break the ber as itis passed through the apparatus; and the following is a more detailed description of the present embodiment of this invention, illustrating the preferred means by which these advantageous results may be accomplished:

I will rst point out that my machine consists essentially of a means for feeding the work to and through the machine from a suitable source of supply, a means for cutting the work on an oblique or diagonal to the path of travel of the work through the machine and a re-arranging of the bers for presenting them to a drafting apparatus, all of which can be utilized as an attachment to a gill box or a drawing frame when delivering the work in the required form thereto.

The general plan of this invention is to assemble a group of continuous filaments in the form of ropes. as above explained, side by side so that the width is greater than the thickness similar to the form of a ribbon, and to then cut the ribbon diagonally of its path of travel through the ma.- chine, as shown in Fig. 9, to form sections of staple fibers so arranged that the end portions of some of the staple bers lof the section will overlap the opposite end portions of other relatively laterally disposed staple bers, the cut being made generally in a vertical .plane for this purpose, and from top to bottom of the ribbon. The sections of staple fibers are designated generally z, while the diagonal line of cut separating them is designated generally y, looking down on top of the ribbon shown in'Fig. 9, while each individual staple fiber is designated x. 'I'he fibers at one edge of the section are denoted x' and at the other edge of the section z". 'I'he end portion w of the fibers :r' of one section z extend forwardly past the ends v of the bers of the next section z which are laterally disposed with reference to the bers at the opposite edge of the block or section. In fact, the end 1J of the fiber on the edge :c of the section z is in substantially the same position as the fiber on the extreme opposite edge of the next section z, so far as advancement in the direction of the arrow is concerned, while each of the intermediate fibers between the edges bear a similar relation, so far as the position of advancement is concerned, in the direction of the arrow of one extending along a portion of another in what I term an overlapping relation; and then I rotate or turn the ribbon of material which is disposed generally in a horizontal plane through 90 or a quarter turn so as to dispose the work in a generally vertical plane, this rotation occurring'after the cut has been made so that the overlapping portions of the staple fibers instead of overlapping at each side of a vertical plane overlap from top to bottom of the work after it has been rotated which permits the staple fibers to be drawn in a drawing apparatus, it being delivered to a gill box or any drawing apparatus for this purpose.

The apparatus' for accomplishing this result comprises generally the provision of a cuttingl means, a means for feeding the work through the cutting means, and a means for positioning the work with 'reference to -the cutting means and with relation to its next operation of drawing. These different 'operations are performed by different units, there being several units for positioning the work and several units for feeding the work. The cutting unit is designated generally A, the feeding means consist of units designated generally B, C, D and E, while the positioning means are designated as units F, G, H and I, the latter unit serving to turn the work through and also including as a part of its operative structure the feeding unit E.v The positioning means locate the work definitely and hold it against lateral movement While also exercising some condensing action on the work as it is passed through the machine.

With reference more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, numeral I0 designates the frame of the apparatus consisting of spaced parallel tracks having undercut grooves II for receiving and supporting standards carrying different parts of the actuating mechanism for operating upon or guiding the Work. The reed F comprises standards I5 mounted on the tracks I Il and held in desired position by bolts I6 for supporting between these standards a plate-like member I1 having a plurality of openings therein for the reception of various ropes I8 which are drawn from suitable twenty pound balls I9, shown as much smaller in proportion to their original size than the remainder of the apparatus, and supported at some point spaced from the end of the machine for positively locating and positioning these ropes with reference to the actuating mechanism of the apparatus. Each of these ropes, as before mentioned, consists of a group of filaments each of a continuous length, that is, filaments which may extend up to a thousand yards or so and of any convenient length such as may be drawn from a spinneret and packaged vin a single ball or top I9.

After passing through the reed plate I1, the work is engaged by the rst feeding unit B o1' the series B, C, D and E. These feed units are all similar, thus a description of one or the first unit will suilice. In the first feed unit the upper pressure roll is designated, and the lower uted driven roll 2l. .These -rolls are supported in standards 22 adjustably positioned on the frame of the machine I0. The lower driven roll is mounted on shaft 23 which has bearings in the support 22, while the upper roll is mounted upon shaft 24 having bearings 25 which are slidable in guides 26 in the standards 22, and these lbearings are pressed downwardly by means of springs 21 encircling bolt 28 and acting between the bearing 25 and the abutment washer 2S on bolt 28. 'Ihis bolt is carried by arm 30 which is held in position by a rock/able bolt 3l and its nut 32.

After passing 'through feed unit B the work is guided by unit G comprising a trough-shaped device 35 having side walls 36' converging toward each other in the direction of the advancing work Aas it travels in the machine, which causes a conde nsing of the work prior to being fed yby rolls 50 and 5I of unit C, which is similar to the unit B above described, into the cutters A, which consists of a. pair of cylindrical members 31 and I8 with helically disposed cutting ribs 39 and 40 thereon. The lower cylindrical cutter is rotatably mounted in bearings 4I in the standard 42 while the upper cutter 38 is rotatably mounted in bearings 43 in the standard 42. This upper cylinder is axially urged by reason of a spring 44 adjustable by the nut 45 so as to cause the cutting edges of theribs 39 and 40 to contact and pass each other with a shearing action. The cylinder portion of the cutters grip and feed the mass of Work and prevent it from lateral movement, and as the work is' passed through these cutters a diagonal cut such as 45 is performed severing the group of fibers. 'I'he angular relation of the helices on the drums'will depend upon the width of the work being fed through the machine and the length of staple fiber required. The cutting cylinders such as illustrated, for example, are substantially five inches in circumference, thus adapting them to cut staple fibers five inches in length. 'I'he axial length of each cylinder is substantially four inches and the helical cutting rib extends substantially twice about each cylinder in this four-inch length. The work is substantiallytwo inches in width and located in the middle of the cylinder so that two inches of the helical cutter engages this two inches of work. It is found that this example of dimensions is a correct proportioning of vthese parts to provide the correct angle or pitch of the cutting helix or rib so as toprovide the proper overlap of the staple fibers and yet provide an angular cut which will not cause too great a side push or tendency to move laterally, the same being held by the grip of the cutting cylinders on the fibers. If a staple fiber of a dierent length is to be desired, a different diameter of cutting cylinder will be provided, the diameter of the cutting cylinder being the criterion of the length of liber which is to be formed. It WHL-however, be readily apparent that this is merely a mathematical problem which may be readily solved for the dimensions required. Y

-After leaving the cutters A the work isfed by unit D which is similar to unit B and equipped with. rolls 52 and 53. After delivery from the rolls 52 and 53 of lunit D the workis further condensed by meansy of the unit H comprising the trough 55 having the inclined walls 55 converging in the direction of travel of the work. After travel over rolls in unit E similar to unit B.

These belts are much longer in proportion to their roll than shown, the shorter length being more convenient for illustration. The; rolls in unit E are designated 59 and 50 and rotate on substantially parallelaxes and about which endless belts Sl and 62 travel. These belts also travel about pulleys 63 and 64, as shown in various figures, but particularly clearly in Figs. 4 and 5, which pulleys are mounted on shafts 55 and 55. These shafts are disposedfgenerally at right` .angles tothe shafts of the rolls 59 and 50 but the shafts 55 and 55 are not parallel to each other. For instance, the axis of the shaft 55 is in a plane -85 which is perpendicular to the line 95 drawn from the axis of the roll 59 at a point midway v.between its opposite edges and passing through a point midway between the opposite edges of the roll 53. The similar 'plane passing through the axis of shaft 55 is designated 98, which planeis perpendicular to the line 91 drawn from the axis of the roll 50 at a point midway between its opposite edges to a point on the axis of the roll 55 which is midway between its edges. The intersection of the planes 95 and 98 will form a line 99 which will pass not only throughthe points of intersection of the line 95 with the plane 95 and the point of intersection of the line 91 with the plane 98, but also will pass through the center of the work. It is necessary that this angular relation of the shafts 55 and 55 be maintained in order that the belts will maintain their correctly disposed relation, such as shown in Fig. 5. This same relationship applies to the rolls 59 and 60 at the other end of the belts.

Thus, it will be apparent that the work which is fed into the belts in the form of a flat thin ribbon in a horizontal plane will be rotated or turned through a quarter of a revolution or through 90 by being gripped by the surfaces of the belt and gradually turned through this amount before discharged, so that instead of being in a generally horizontal plane as at its feeding end the work will .be in a generally vertical plane when Vdelivered from the apparatus or at right angles to its position of ltravel through the remainder of the machine. This disposes the obliquely cut ends which are overlapping in a sidewise direction to a position so that the ends of the -bers are overlapping from the bottom to the top and thus `are in a position to be drawn in the drafting apparatus.

A drive shaft 58 extends horizontally along the length of the apparatus being mounted in bearing's 59 and 10 to which shaft power is applied from the gill box or other drawing apparatus to which the apparatus is applied. Bevel gears are provided on the ends of the lower rolls 2|, 5|), 52 and 60 and also on the end of the cutter shaft 31, which gears are designated respectively 13, 1I, 15, 11 and 15, respectively, to be driven vby the bevel gears 18, 19, 8|, 82 and 80, respectively, fixed on the shaft 58. In order that the cutters may be driven in unison spur gears 83 are on the ends of each of the shafts of the cutters which mesh with each other. g e

The work I8 as it is fed into the machine is condensed as at 85, severed as at I5 and again condensed as at 85, whereupon it passes into the belts and is turned through 90 to be delivered at rightfangles to its position operated upon. The condensing means as at 85 and 85 are substantially the only points of friction in the passage of the work through the machine, there being substantially no friction by means of the belts gripping kthe work as it is traveled throughv and turned in this form of the apparatus. A tension is mainv tained on the work by reason of a slightlydiiferent diameter of the feed rolls, the diameter of the rolls slightly increasing as the work progresses through the machine, or if desired, the gears on the ends of the rolls or feeding members may be arranged to cause this tension to exist, thus the fibers at no time are pushed in their travel.

It is desirable under some circumstances to provide a combined condenser and turning device for the work, and I have illustrated atf88 in Fig. 6 such a device. This device consists of a fixed block 89 having an opening 90 through it with ribs 9| which are directed along the path of a helix. 'Ihese ribs are rounded at their edge -but provide lobes 92 between themefor the reception of the work so that the ribs extend into the work sumciently to act upon the same and cause the Work to follow the path of the ribs, thus causing the advancing work to turn through an angular relation dependent upon the extent of the ribs with a slight allowance for slippage, thus, to produce a turn of substantially as it passes through the opening 90. I cause the ribs to .be i

disposed through substantially by reason of the axial dimension of the fixed block 89. A plating of chromium covers the work contacting surface of the orifice and ribs and is highly polished to present a minimum amount of friction on the work traveling therethrough. In such a disposition of the work the pulleys 59 and 55 act as feed rolls rather than pulleys andthe surface 93 of `the lower roll is iluted in order that a grip will be had upon the work to deliver it to the gills of a drawing apparatus.

The foregoing description is directed towards the method and construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the equivalent changes to which the construction and method are susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. The process of forming spinnable sliver from filaments of continuous lengths, which comprises continuously feeding said fllaments in generally parallel contiguous relation in a lengthwise direction, cutting said filaments obliquely to their line of travel while moving to provide staple fibers, turning the mass of fibers about an axis parallel to the direction of travel of the work to dispose said cut in a different plane and feeding said staple fibers to a drawing apparatus while maintaining the fibers in substantially parallel position.

2. 'I'he process of forming spinnable sliver from filaments of continuous lengths which comprises continuously feeding said laments in generally parallel contiguous relation in a lengthwise direction, cutting said filaments obliquely to their line of travel while moving to provide drawing apparatus having superimposed rolls` while maintaining the fibers in substantially parallel position. 4 v Y 3. The process of forming spinnable sliver from filaments of continuous lengths, which comprises continuously feeding said filaments in generally parallel contiguous relation in a lengthwise dire'ction, cutting said filaments obliquely to their line of travel while moving to provide staple fibers, turning the mass of fibers through substantially 90 to dispose said cut in a different plane and feeding said staple fibers to a drawing apparatus while maintaining said staple fibers in a substantially parallel position.

4. The process of forming spinnable sliver from laments of continuous lengths which comprises continuously feeding said laments in generally parallel contiguous relation in -a lengthwise direction, cutting said filaments obliquely to their line of travel while moving to provide staple fibers overlapping each other at right' angles to .their plane of cut, turning the mass of fibers about an axis parallel to the direction of travel of the work through substantially 90 to dispose the plane of said cut ends one overlying the other from top to bottom and feeding said bers to a drawing apparatus having superimposed rolls, while maintaining said staple fibers in a substantially parallel position without combing.

5. lIhe process of forming spinnable sliver from filaments of continuous lengths which comprises continuously feeding said filaments in generally parallel contiguous relation in a lengthwise direction, cutting .said filaments obliquely to their line of travelk while moving to provide staple fibers overlapping each other at right angles to the plane of cut, condensing said staple fibers into a more compact mass, maintaining the fibers in a substantially parallel position, turning the mass of bers through substantially 90 to dispose the plane oi.' said cut ends one overlying the other from top to bottom and feeding said fibers to a drawing apparatus having superimposed rolls.

6. An apparatus for forming spinnable sliver from continuous length filaments, comprising in an operative combination, means for continuously feeding the work through the apparatus, cutting means for severing the work obliquely to its path of travel, means for operating the cutting means Without interrupting the feeding means, and means for rotating the work after being cut through substantially 90.

7. An apparatus for forming spinnable sliver from continuous length filaments, comprising in an operative combination, means for continuously feeding the work through the apparatus. cutting means for severing the work obliquely to its path of travel, means for operating the cutting means without interrupting the feeding means, means for condensing the severed staple fibers, and means for rotating the work after being cut through substantially 90.

8. An apparatus for forming spinnable sliver from continuous length laments, comprising in an operative combination, means for continuously feeding the work through the apparatus, cutting means for severing the work obliquely to its path of travel, means for operating .the 'cutting means without interrupting the feeding means, means for condensing the severed staple fibers, and

, means for rotating the work after cut through substantially 90, said means being all synchronously related as to time of operation.

9. An apparatus for forming spinnable sliver l fromcontinuous length filaments comprising in an operative combination means for continuously feeding the work through the apparatus, cutting means for severing the work obliquely to its path of travel, a pair of endless belts for receiving .between them the cut sliver in one plane, turning the same into a different plane-by rotation about an axis parallel to the direction of travel of the work and delivering it to the desired point.

10. An apparatus for forming spinnable sliver from continuous length laments comprising in an operative combination means for continuously feeding the work through thel apparatus, cutting means for severing -the work obliquely to its path of travel, a pair of endless belts for receiving between them the cut sliver and delivering it to the desired point, said belts being arranged to turn the work about an axis parallel to -the direction of travel of the work through substantially during the travel of the work between them.

11. An apparatus for forming spinnable sliver from continuous length filaments comprising in an operative combination means comprising rolls for continuously feeding the work through the apparatus, cutting means for severing the work obliquely to its path of travel, a pair of endless belts traveling over pulleys revolving on axes substantially parallel to the axes of the feeding rolls at their receiving end and over4 pulleys whose axes areat substantially right angles to the axes of the feeding rolls at the delivery ends of the belts for receiving between them the cut sliver and delivering it to the desired point but revolved through 90 i 12. The process of forming spinnable sliver from filaments of continuous lengths, which comprises continuously feeding said filaments in generally parallel contiguous relation in a lengthwise direction, 'cutting said filaments obliquely to their line of travel while moving to provide staple fibers, turning the mass of fibers through a portion of a complete revolution to dispose said cut in a different plane and feeding said staple fibers to a drawing apparatus.

13. An apparatus for forming spinnable sliver from continuous length filaments comprising in an operative-combination means for continuously feeding the work through the apparatus, cutting means for severing the work obliquely .to its path of travel, and a fixed member having an orifice through which the work passes with helically disposed ribs projecting into the orifice to cause a turning of the work through 90 as it passes therethrough.

14. An apparatus for forming spinnable sliver from continuous length filaments vcomprising in an operative combination means for continuously feeding the work through the apparatus, cutting means for severing the work obliquely to its pathof travel, and a fixed member having an orifice through which the work passes with helically disposed ribs projecting into the orifice to cause a turning of the work through a portion of a complete revolution.

15. The process of forming spinnable sliver from filaments of continuous lengths which comprises continuously feeding a mass of filaments in generally parallel contiguous relation in a lengthwise direction, positively gripping said laments while advancing to prevent .lateral movement, and while so positively gripped cutting said mass of laments obliquely to their line of travel while moving to provide staple fiber, and engaging and feeding the cut sections of staple fibers to a drawing apparatus while maintaining the fibers in substantially parallel position and free from any substantial longitudinal pushing of one cut group of fibers upon another.

16. I'he process of forming spinnable sliver from filaments of continuous lengths which comprises continuously feeding a mass of laments in generally parallel contiguous relation in a lengthwise direction,positively gripping said filaments while advancing to prevent lateral movement, and while so positively gripped cutting said mass of filaments obliquely to their line of travel while moving to provide staple fiber, and condensing into a more compact mass, and feeding the cut sections of staple bers to a drawing apparatus while maintaining the fibers inv substantially parallel position and free from Aany substantial longitudinal pushing of one cut group of fibers upon another.

17. The process of forming spinnable sliver from filaments of continuous lengths which comprises continuously feeding a mass of filaments in generally parallel contiguous relation in a lengthwise direction, positively gripping said iilaments while advancing to prevent lateral movement, and while so positively gripped cutting said mass of filaments obliquely to their line of travel while moving to provide staple fiber, engaging the cut sections of staple fibers and turning them through substantially 90 to dispose the plane of the cut ends one overlying the other from bottom to top and feeding the sections of staple fibers to a drawing apparatus while maintaining the fibers in substantially parallel position and free from any substantial longitudinal pushing of one cut group of fibers upon another. e

18. The process of forming spinnable sliver from filaments of .continuous lengths which comthe other from bottom to top and feeding the sections of staple fibers to a drawing apparatus while maintaining the fibers in vsubstantially parallel position and free from any substantial longitudinal pushing of one cut group of fibers upon another.

19. An apparatus for forming spinnable sliver from filaments of continuous lengths comprising means for continuously feeding a mass of filaments in generally parallel contiguous relation in a lengthwise direction, rotary cutting means for severing said mass of filaments while being fed forward, said feeding means including rotating means for gripping said filaments while advancing and located adjacent and in back of and in front of said cutting means for preventing lateral movement of said filaments, said feeding means being so constructed and arranged as to maintain the fibers in substantially parlallel position and free from any substantial longitudinal pushing of one cut group of fibers upon another.

20. An apparatus for forming spinnable sliver from filaments of continuous lengths comprising a rotary helical shear for severing said mass of filaments, nipping rolls having their axes parallel and closely adjacent to said shear and in back and in front of said shear for suiiiciently gripping the filaments while being cut to prevent lateral movement thereof, means for rotating said rolls, feeding means forward of said rolls so constructed and arranged as to maintain the fibers in substantially parallel position and free from any substantial longitudinal pushing of one cut group of bers upon another.

21. An apparatus for forming spinnable sliver from filaments of continuous lengths comprising a rotary helical shear for severing said mass of filaments, nipping rolls having their axes parallel and closely adjacent to said shear and in back and in front of said shear for sufficiently gripping the filaments while being cut to prevent lateral movement thereof, feeding means comprising a pair of feed rolls forward of the front nipping Arolls with their axes spaced along the-length of travel of the fibers substantially the` length of the severed staple fiber formed, said feeding means being so constructed and arranged as to maintain the fibers in substan- -tially parallel position and free from any substantial longitudinal pushing of one cut group of fibers upon another, and means for rotating all of said rolls.

22. An apparatus for forming spinnable sliver from filaments of continuous lengths comprising means for continuously feeding a mass of filaments in generally parallel contiguous relation in a lengthwise direction, rotary cutting means for severing said mass of filaments while being fed forward, said feeding means including rotating means for gripping said filaments while advancing and located adjacent and in back of and in front of said cutting means for preventing lateral movement of said filaments, and

means for turning the groups of bers in the cut sections through substantially 90 to dispose the plane of the cut ends one overlying the other from top to bottom, said feeding means being so constructed and arranged as to maintain the bers in substantially parallel position and free from any substantial longitudinal pushing of one cut group of bers upon another. l

23. The process of forming spinnable sliver from filaments of continuous lengths which comprises continuously feeding a mass of laments in generally parallel contiguous relation in a lengthwise direction, positively gripping said laments while advancing to prevent lateral movement, and while so positively gripped cutting said mass of laments while moving to provide staple ber, and engaging and feeding the cut sections of staple bers to a drawing apparatus while maintaining the bers in substantially parallel position not depending on any substantial 20 longitudinal pushing of one cut group of bers upon another.

24. The method of producing a sliver from articial laments which comprises arranging a plurality or continuous laments in parallel relation, cutting said parallel filaments to form a plurality of groups of parallel staple bers in each of which the adjacent bers are progressively longitudinally displaced in the same direction, then suppOrting the bers throughout their lengths while positively carrying the same on a longitudinally extending moving surface and simultaneously with said carrying. moving the bers transversely to cause some of the bers to move out of said plane in superposed relation and overlapping the bers of said groups while maintaining' the bers of each group longitudinally displaced.

NELSON S. CAMPBELL. 

